MLB Rumors: Could Miami Marlins' Search For Backup Catcher Lead Them To Colorado Rockies?

By Thom Tsang

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not exactly a rule written in stone, but it might as well be these days: all roads for MLB rumors lead to the Colorado Rockies.

TheMiami Marlins are no exception, especially now that they’re going to need a backup catcher after Jeff Mathis‘ unfortunate misadventures:

https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/305420875015016448

And guess who happens to have excess depth at backstop? Why, yes, it’s the Rockies, who are currently carrying more catchers than they need, including Jordan Pacheco, the 27-year old utility man who can play all over the infield as well as catch, but is buried in the depth charts at every position.

He’s reportedly working on catching more this season, which would add to his value to the team…if he wasn’t already behind both Wilin Rosario and Ramon Hernandez.

That’s not even counting Yorvit Torrealba, who was signed to a minor league deal by the team this season.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports had already written that it would be likely for the Rockies to deal from strength to acquire the pitching that they’ve desired all off-season, and as it so happens, the Marlins have pitching in excess.

Well, at least young pitching, anyway. The team will have a number of pitchers competing for jobs in the rotation in spring this year, including Wade LeBlanc, and Brad Hand, a top-10 organizational prospect who made 12 starts for the Marlins in 2011, posting a 4.20 ERA.

Would either land Pacheco, who would be able to serve more roles for the Marlins than simply being Rob Brantly’s backup? It may not be a perfect fit, considering that the Rockies aren’t really looking for young pitching unless there’s a fair bit of upside, and the Marlins probably aren’t looking to move that either.

The Rockies could also move either Torrealba or Hernandez, which is a far more likely (but less exciting) scenario, but it’s doubtful whether they’d get anything more than a low-impact PTNBL and some cash from any team, and that’s not the arm they’re looking for.

One name of interest here is Marlins ace (by default) Ricky Nolaso, who will cost the team $11.5 million in 2013, and who will almost certainly leave for free agency after the season, after his agent expressed the player’s wish to be traded.

An established innings-eater like Nolasco would probably interest the Rockies, but at what cost? I’m imagine that any deal that involves the righty would see multiple players (Pacheco, Jonathan Herrera?) coming back to the Marlins, and that Nolasco is in a contract year complicates things.

Unless, of course, it’s a straight-up salary dump. It’s not as though the Marlins haven’t been known for those, too.